4-Day Turkey Highlights Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale (Starts from Kayseri)

Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport (scheduled no later than 09:00 AM), you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to the region to begin your full-day exploration. The tour commences with a visit to Devrent Valley, a landscape famous for its surreal, lunar-like terrain and unique fairy chimneys. From there, you will proceed to Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), renowned for its striking mushroom-shaped earth pillars and ancient hermitage cells carved into the soft rock.

Continuing your journey, you will head to Avanos, a town situated on the banks of the Red River and celebrated for its pottery-making tradition dating back to the Hittite period. After enjoying a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon takes you to the Zelve Open Air Museum. Here, you will wander through an abandoned cave village comprising ancient dwellings and religious chambers that offer a deep dive into the region’s monastic history. The final stop of the day is a visit to Uchisar to view the imposing rock castle. While entry into the castle is not included, you will have the opportunity to capture panoramic photos of the fortress and the surrounding valleys. At approximately 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options to enhance your evening: a Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner, a thrilling Cappadocia ATV Tour, a scenic Cappadocia Horseback Riding tour through the valleys, or a spiritual Cappadocia Whirling Dervish Show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints.

For an optional early morning experience, you may book a Hot Air Balloon Ride to enjoy breathtaking aerial views of Cappadocia’s valleys and unique landscapes. Please note that this activity is available at an additional cost and requires advance reservation to guarantee your spot.

After breakfast and checking out from your hotel, you will be picked up around 9:30 AM to meet your tour guide and begin your exploration of South Cappadocia. The journey starts with a visit to the Red Valley, famous for its spectacular rock-cut churches and distinctively colored cliffs. From here, you will enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the Rose Valley, immersing yourself in the tranquil beauty of the region’s nature. Next, you will explore Cavusin Village, an ancient settlement known for its abandoned rock houses and churches that were once used by early Christian clergy.

Around noon, you will take a break for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Following your meal, the tour continues to the picturesque Pigeon Valley, named after the countless pigeon houses carved directly into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you will delve into history by exploring one of Cappadocia’s remarkable underground cities—either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City. These expansive subterranean networks served as vital shelters for early Christians escaping persecution.

At approximately 3:30 PM, your tour will conclude, and you will be transferred to either Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your late evening flight to Izmir, with a layover in Istanbul. Upon your arrival at Izmir Airport, our representative will meet you with a sign bearing your name and transfer you to your hotel in Kuşadası for the night. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast at around 7:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi and transferred to the meeting point in Selcuk to join the full group. The journey to Pamukkale begins at approximately 8:30 AM, involving a scenic drive of about three hours with a short break along the way. Upon arrival around 11:45 AM, you will enjoy a refreshing lunch at a local restaurant before commencing your exploration.

At approximately 1:00 PM, your guided tour begins with a visit to the stunning Cotton Cliffs, a remarkable natural wonder defined by white terraces formed by deposits of calcareous salts. You will also discover the impressive ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient Greco-Roman city located atop the travertines. Highlights of this historical site include the remarkably well-preserved Theatre and the ancient Roman Baths, which offer a glimpse into the daily life of the city’s past inhabitants.

Following the guided portion of the tour, you will have about one hour of free time to explore the area at your own pace. If you wish, you may choose to swim in the thermal waters of the Pamukkale Antique Pools (Cleopatra’s Pool), an optional activity available at your own expense. Your guide will provide the exact meeting details before your free time begins. The tour concludes at approximately 4:00 PM, after which you will be driven back to Kusadasi, arriving at your hotel around 7:30 PM. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After enjoying breakfast and completing the checkout process at your hotel in Kusadasi, you will be picked up around 8:30 AM to embark on a full-day exploration of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved and most significant ancient cities in the world. As you walk through history, you will marvel at architectural masterpieces such as the intricate Temple of Hadrian, the monumental Great Theater where St. Paul once preached, and the elegant Trajan Fountain.

Following a refreshing lunch break at a local restaurant, the journey continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, a serene and sacred site believed to be the final residence of Mary, the mother of Jesus. You will also visit the historic site of the Temple of Artemis, which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only a few columns remain today to hint at its former glory. Your final stop will be the Isabey Mosque, a splendid 14th-century structure that showcases the grandeur and transitional style of Seljuk-Ottoman architecture.

The tour ends at approximately 4:00 PM. Afterward, you will be transferred to Kusadasi city center, the Izmir bus station, or Izmir Airport by 5:00 PM, depending on your onward travel plans, marking the end of our services.